Automated line test action and monitoring system

• US 9,037,917 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Christopher, Bertelsen, Keith, Losee, Bruce, Shankar, Kavitha
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehne, Charles
• Application Number:
  US13/705,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20140153626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2252 using fault dictionaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2257 using expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/28 Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop

Abstract

A method includes identifying, at a computing system executing a line test engine, a line to be tested by comparing a test entry of a test configuration database to a first database. The first database includes line data descriptive of multiple lines of a network. The method includes determining, at the computing system, a test to be performed on the line based on the test entry and sending a message from the computing system to a line test controller. The message indicates the line and the test to be performed on the line. The line test controller causes a test device to perform the test on the line. The method includes receiving a result message from the line test controller, wherein the result message indicates a result of the test.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, at a computing system executing a line test engine, a line to be tested by comparing a test entry of a test configuration database to a first database, wherein the first database includes line data descriptive of multiple lines of a network;

determining, at the computing system, a test to be performed on the line based on the test entry;

sending a message from the computing system to a line test controller, wherein message indicates the line and the test to be performed on the line, wherein the line test controller causes a test device to perform the test on the line; and

receiving a result message from the line test controller, wherein the result message indicates a result of the test.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the result is indicated as a numeric value, and further comprising:

performing a comparison of the numeric value to a threshold range indicated in the test entry, wherein the threshold range corresponds to acceptable values for the results of the test; and

determining whether the line passed the test based on the comparison.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing a result entry in a result database, wherein the result entry indicates whether the line passed the test.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to determining that the line did not pass the test, initiating a corrective action, wherein the corrective action is selected based on the test entry.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to determining that the line did not pass the test, sending a notification message to a designated recipient or a designated group of recipients, wherein the designated recipient or the designated group of recipients is indicated in the test entry.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to determining that the line passed the test, determining a subsequent test to be performed on the line based on the test entry.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to determining that the line did not pass the test, determining a subsequent test to be performed on the line based on the test entry.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the test is configured to identify a problem related to the line and the subsequent test is configured to determine a source or location of the problem.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the test and the subsequent test relate to a common characteristic of the line.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the test and the subsequent test relate to distinct characteristic of the line.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the result is indicated as a numeric value, and further comprising:

performing a comparison of the numeric value to a first threshold value and a second threshold value indicated in the test entry;

when the numeric value satisfies the first threshold value and does not satisfy the second threshold value, selecting a first subsequent test to be performed on the line based on the test entry; and

when the numeric value satisfies the first threshold value and satisfies the second threshold value, selecting a second subsequent test to be performed on the line based on the test entry, wherein the first subsequent test is distinct from the second subsequent test.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the line to be tested includes determining whether a triggering event associated with a particular line has occurred, wherein determining whether the triggering event has occurred includes determining whether event data stored at the first database satisfies criteria associated with the triggering event, and wherein the criteria are indicated by the test entry.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the triggering event corresponds to a particular date, a particular time, a modification to a network, an addition to the network, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the triggering event corresponds to an indication that a particular action has been performed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the triggering event has occurred includes searching a second database for information related to the particular action.

16. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

identifying a line to be tested by comparing a test entry of a test configuration database to a first database, wherein the first database includes line data descriptive of multiple lines of a network;

determining a test to be performed on the line based on the test entry;

sending a message to a line test controller, wherein message indicates the line and the test to be performed on the line, and wherein the line test controller causes a test device to perform the test on the line; and

receiving a result message from the line test controller, wherein the result message indicates a result of the test.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein identifying the line to be tested includes searching the first database using a criterion specified in the test entry and selecting a database record of the first database that satisfies the criterion, and wherein the database record includes a line identifier of the line.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the criterion includes a project identifier.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the criterion includes a line status identifier.

20. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a line to be tested by comparing a test entry of a test configuration database to a first database, wherein the first database includes line data descriptive of multiple lines of a network;

determining a test to be performed on the line based on the test entry;

sending a message to a line test controller, wherein the message indicates the line and the test to be performed on the line, and wherein the line test controller causes a test device to perform the test on the line; and

receiving a result message from the line test controller, wherein the result message indicates a result of the test.